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Miss Cumbria finalist to tackle Britain's highest peak for charity

A Miss Cumbria finalist is to tackle Britain’s highest mountain to prove her mettle and raise money for charity.

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Lucy Ruggles is climbing Ben Nevis to raise money for the Variety Club, the children’s charity for which all finalists are asked to collect donations.

She will be joined by her father as she tackles the 1,344-metre (4,409 feet) Highlands peak on June 19.

She said: “I do some walking, but not very much and not really uphill, so I’m going to have to train and I’m going up Skiddaw and things like that every weekend at the moment. I’ve heard Ben Nevis is quite hard.

“I think I can do it, but it will be difficult. I’m going up with my dad as he has done it before and knows the trail, and I think it will probably take me about eight hours.

“I hadn’t heard of the charity before it was mentioned to me for this, but I have looked it up now and it’s a really good charity for children.”

The 21-year-old, who manages the Jave And Chocolate coffee house in Keswick, is among 30 Cumbrians preparing for the county final at Stanwix Arts Theatre in Carlisle on July 3.

The winner will go through to the semi-finals of the Miss England competition, and will be in with a chance of representing the country in the Miss England competition in Vietnam, which carries a $100,000 prize.

Lucy added: “I posted some pictures in last year but was too late to get into the competition, but I did it earlier this year as I had done some modelling pictures.

“I hope I can win it, and I hope I can raise plenty of money for this charity as well so we can do some good for that charity.”

Lucy will also be holding other fundraising events around Keswick. To donate to the cause, visit Java And Coffee in Main Street, Keswick.

Another Miss Cumbria finalist, Emma Sowerby who is from Harraby but lives in Liverpool, was raising money for the charity through a sponsored run, despite admitting she “loathes” running.

And the 22-year-old successfully completed the five-kilometre run in Sefton Park in Liverpool in 40 minutes.

She said: “My time pretty much what I expected, though had it been a bit cooler I may have been quicker – I’d like to think so anyway!”